Automatic sprinkler apparatus.



PATENTED JULY 14, 1908.

E. L. THOMPSON. AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1907.

WITN ESSES:

% EMTORNEYS EVERETT L. THOMPSON, OF DOVER, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC 'srRmKLER APPARATUS.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, 1908.

Application. filed May 18, 1907. Serial N 0. 374,420.

To. all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EVERETT L. THOMP- SON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Dover, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have made a certain new and useful Invention Relating to Automatic Sprinkler Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, part of the same.

This invention relates to automatic sprinkler apparatus and relates especially to sprin kler apparatus comprising water operated air compressing devicesfor maintaining the air pressure in dry pipe distributing systems or forming for otherwise supplying compressed air in connection with sprinkler systems.

In the accompanying drawings showing in a somewhat diagrammatic way an illustrative embodiment of this invention in elevation partly in section, the supply pipe 1 connectswith a valve casing 2 in which dry pi e mechanism of any desired character may be installed, the simple check valve 3 being indicated as cooperatin with the seat .4. The

riser 5 above the va ve casing connects with the distributing system comprising the pipes 7-, '8, 9, connected to the junction 6 and having suitable sprinkler heads, such as 9*, as is usual.

The water pipe lfiprovided with the valve 17 is connecte to the supply pipe 1 and to the injector air 'compressmg device which may com rise a nozzle 18 of any desired shape to irect the water jet into the throat 19 and draw air or other desired fluid medium through the screen 20 and force the same togetherwith the water through the throat and past the check valve 21 so as to discharge the same through the pipe 22 into the separator 27. This separator may be of any desired construction to separate the water and water vapor from the air or other compressed medium to the desired extent. A series of bafile plates 28 preferably of circular form'may be supported from a transverse partition in the separator so as to extend downward around the inlet pipeand similar circularly arranged baflles 29 may extend up ward from the opposing wall of the separator so as to form astaggered passage for the water, suitable apertures 30 being arranged as desired in the partition for the esca e of the air or other compressed'fluid me ium, the term air being subse uently used in this case as covering any suc medium. If desired, a suitable water valve may be used in the separator to automatically prevent the access of water to the air line 35 which may supply the compressed air to the distributing system or other art of the sprinkler apparatus desired, suc as water pressure tan-ks. As indicated .a suitable H valve is shown as mounted on the float 33 which may be pivoted about the pin 32 and also provided with the loose connection 34. The rise of water 1n the separator to an undesirable extent would lift the float 33 so that the valve mounted thereon would close the opening into theair line and prevent any water entering the same. When the water receded from the chamber 31 of the separator the float would fall, withdrawing the valve from its seat, the parts being so proportioned as to effect this result. A suitable check valve 42 is also preferably used in the air line to prevent leakage therefrom under any conditions. Any desired throttling device may be in-- stalled on the discharge pipe 36 connected with the separator. The pivoted valve 38 is shown as closing the discharge orifice and the spring, 39 acting upon the valve arm indicated normally holds the valve closed so that a minimum pressure is always maintained in the separator and the air thereby compressed to t e desired extent before being forced into the air line and distributing system. This pressure may be adjusted by regulating the adjustingscrew 40 mounted in a suitable lug on, the discharge spout 37 and connected with the spring '39 as indicated. This. air compressing device is manuall controlled and operates on the opening of tlie hand valve 17, the water being forced into the compressing device by a force pump or other means connected with the supply pipe 1 and of course provision may be made to connect the discharge spout 37 with the pump, if desired, so as to have a closed water circuit and save waste of power and water.

In addition to the compressing device described which may be operated from time to time an automatic air compressing devicemay be em )loyed to automatically maintain the desired pressure in the distributing system or other part of the sprinkler apparatus. This com ressing device may comprise a 'suitable nozz e 24 C06 erating with the throat 25 so the separator. This compressing device is shown as connected to the supply ipe through the pipe 15 and automatic vdlve, the valve 14 controlling the admission of 5 water to the compressing device. This valve is mounted on a suitable stem connected to the diaphragm 12 in the diaphragm chamber 11. A spring 13 of the desired strength normally orces this diaphra m and valve upward into open .position w ile an air pipe 10 leading from the distributing system or other point to which the air is su plied admits air under the pressure in t e system to the diaphragm chamber, so that 15 when normal air pressure exists in the distributing system the control valve is closed and this automatic compressing device is inoperative. As soon, however, as the air pressure in the distributing system falls be- OW the desired amount the s ring forces the diaphragm and valve upwar against the diminished pressure, opening the automatic valve 14 and allowing water to enter the compressing device until suflicient additional air pressure is created inthe distributing sys tem to bring it up to the desired amount, whereu )on this compressing device is automatically shut off.

Having described this invention in connection with an illustrative embodiment thereof, to the details of which disclosure it is not, of course, to be limited, what is claimed as new and what is desired to be secured byLetters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

-1. In combination in sprinkler. apparatus, a sup ly pipe, a distributing system connected therewith, an injector air compressing device and a separator connected to said 40 supply pipe through .a. connection having a hand valve therein; said separator being provided with a water valve and throttling evice and connected to" said distributing systemjan air line having a check valve therein, and tan automatic injector air compressing device and automatic control valve connected to said suppl pi e and said separator, said control va ve lieing connected with said distributing system and operated by the air pressure therein to automatically maintain said air pressure.

2. In combination in sprinkler apparatus, a supply pipe and a dry pipe distributing system connected therewith, a separator provided with a throttling device connected to said distributing system, an injector air coinpressing device connected to said separator and said supply pipe and an automatic injector air compressing device and automatic control valve connected to said separator and supply pipe, said control valve being connected with said distributing system and operated by pressure therein. 3. In combination in sprinkler apparatus, a supply pipe and a dry pipe distributing system connected therewith, a separator connected with said distributing system and an injector air com ressing device and auto matic control va ve for operating the same connected to said separator and supply pipe, said control valve bein connected with said distributing system an operated thereby.

4. In combination in sprinkler apparatus, a dry pipe distributing system, a separator connected with said distributing system, a

source of water under pressure and an air compressing device am automatic control valve connected tosaid separator and said source of water, said control valve being connected with said distributing system and b compressing device and valve connected to said separator and water sup ly pipe.

- 7. In combination in sprm ler ap )aratus, a separator to be connected with an supply air to sprinkler apparatus and an injector air compressin device and valve to be connected with sai separator and a source of water underopressure to compress said air.

8,, In combination in sprinkler ap aratus, a separator comprising a water va yo and throttling device to be connected with and supply air under pressure to sprinkler apparatus and an air compressing device to be connected with said separator and with a source of water under pressure to compress said air.

9. In combination in sprinkler ap )aratus, a separator to be connected with an supply compressed air to sprinkler apparatus and a compressing device and automatic control valve to be connected with said separator and with a supply of water under pressure to compress said air, said control valve being operated by said air pressure.

10. In combin ation in sprinkler apparatus, a dry pipe distributing system, an air compressing device connected with and su )plying air to said distributing system, an automatic control means connected with said distributing system to automatically operate said compressing device when the pressure falls abnormally in the distributing system and to shut oii said conipressing device when the air pressure becomes normal and to keep the same shut off when the system comes into emergency operation.

11. In combination in sprinkler apparatus,

supply pipe of a sprinkler applaratus, an air a distributing system and connected water supply pipe of a sprinkler apparatus, an air compressing device connected with and operated by a water connection from said sprin- I kler apparatus and connected with and supplying compressed air to said sprinkler apparatus, and automatic control means connected with said apparatus and said compressing device to automatically control the supply of water to said compressing device. 7

12. In combination in sprinkler apparatus, a distributing system and connected water compressing device and valv aving a Water connection with said sprinkler apparatus to operate said compressing device by water 1 therefrom and an air connection between said compressing device and said sprinkler system to supply air thereto.

13. In combination sprinkler apparatus, a 9

ate said compressing device by water there 25 from and an air connection between said compressing deviceand said distributing system to supply air thereto.

EVERETT L. THOMPSON. Witnesses:

Jno. R. HAMILTON, A. J. RICHARDS. 

